Smelly washing machine!

Laundry Cleanser (Tesco's own) or buy in bulk through Amazon , definitely no fabric softener.
Another tip, if you use 'Colourcatcher' always use a safety pin and attach to one of the garments. This advice was given by a W/MC mechanic after I called him out because the machine wasn't emptying; the colourcatcher was stuck in the filter. Expensive advice but worth knowing.

Are you sure there is a U-bend on your drainage upstand?
I plumbed my washing machine in and didn't think to put in a U-bend under the pipe which sticks up for the drainage pipe to go into. Horrible smell all the time from the drain.
Installed U-bend this weekend - ah, the sweet smell of success!

The machine has now been cleaned to within an inch of its life with washing soda and 90 degree wash. It's worked! Will now have to rethink my detergent and temperature setting. Thanks for the input everyone.

I used to work in the Hotpoint service office and was instructed to tell customers that it is using liquid soap. Apparently liquid soap doesn't kill off the bacteria. Always use soap powder. Fabric conditioner is fine but you must pull out the drawer and clean it now and again. Hope this helps.

Put the detergent drawer in the dishwasher regularly whilst cleaning where the drawer sits. Wipe the rubber inside the drum after every wash and leave an old flannel in the drum so the door stays ajar. It works for me.

I had my engineer round to mend my dishwasher and mentioned a smell in my washing machine he suggested two dishwasher tablets at 90 degrees to get rid of smell and mould in machine every few months...works like a dream...

Vinegar and water poured in the drawer. And then put on a very hot wash

In desperation to make the messy, mouldy soap dispenser tray look good again. I pulled it completely out, easy task as there is usually a bit you compress and it comes on out, and put it through a wash cycle of the dishwasher! Problem solved.

I changed from liquid detergent to powder just for my whites washes and haven't had a problem since.

I find it solves the problem if you dry the excess water from the rubber seal so no stagnant water to smell.

I had this problem, I tried lots of what people have suggested. Started using a biological gel, well known make. Still use softener. No more smell.

I actually switched to laundry liquid instead of powder after my machine started leaking slightly, and the engineer was unsuccessful fixing it. I know about how liquids could build up a coating so I did it deliberately to block the leak and it worked! Been going for several years since then. But a year or so back I decided to use one of those washing machine cleaner packs and the leak started up again, so now I know I can't risk cleaning it any more.

A washing machine engineer told me to use only powder as the liquid builds up in the machine and causes smells and spotty washing. It is working so far.

I always put the detergent drawer in my dishwasher on the top shelf. Gets it nice and clean. I do give it a scrub in the sink first. Also make sure the washing machine filter is clean as a build up can smell. My machine stopped during a cycle and had the emergency light on as it wouldn't drain. Turned out TWO colour catcher sheets had gone through and caused a blockage! I now put them into a zip up washing bag and it's been fine since then. It's a total pain to drain the machine and check the filter because it is only an inch or two from the floor, so hard to get a container under it and it's a nuisance having to remove the plinth below the kitchen units to access it. I always leave the washing machine door wide open overnight after doing a wash load, but not all the time as it would get in the way. All my appliances are integrated.

Clean the detergent/conditioner dispenser drawer by taking it out and soaking/spraying it with distilled vinegar, then brushing off mould with an old toothbrush.

Soak a soft cloth in distilled vinegar and clean the rubber door seal, paying attention to any gunge that may be trapped right inside itl.

Run the machine empty on a 90 degree wash to which you have added two tablespoons of citric acid crystals.

Repeat this every month.

Try putting white vinegar in the drawer and a few drops of lavender oil in the conditioner drawer

Soda crystals, hot water wash in machine, do mine once a month, sink is given the same treatment, soda crystals and left for 30 mins. Then kettle boiling water poured down plug hole. Do this once a month, same with bath and shower.

Fabric softener coats the fibres of your cloths with a chemical that makes it less able to absorb water. So your towel may feel nice and fluffy, but it won't dry you so well. Your cotton shirt won't absorb, so it will feel like you're wearing a cheap, sweaty synthetic. And don't get me started on the cheap perfume. (I dislike expensive perfume as well, except very occasionally, very sparingly, on a very beautiful person. And remember, if YOU can smell it, others are blasted with the pong.)

I had a bad smelling washing machine last year and tried soda crystals, special washing machine cleaners and bleach all with no effect. I was using soap capsules at the time.
I have now switched to old fashioned powder that you measure out and put directly in the drum and the problem has gone.

I was once told to use a cup of white vinegar on a normal wash. It certainly worked and I now do it as and when, but I also use white vinegar for windows etc, I swear by it.

I use the Dettol washing machine cleaner and always rids the smell. Says to use whole bottle but I never do and has lasted 3 or 4 times

I pop a dishwasher tablet in the drum and run it on a 60c wash and never have any problems with smells!

I'm sure it's the fabric softener which causes the problems. But during the winter I was using the laundry disinfectant as DH likes "proper" hankies and since I have been using that about once a week have had no further problems.

tesco lavender fabric conditioner also their lavender gel washing stuff.
i always wash on a 40 degree wash - never lower - but bedding gets a 60 degree wash and towels a 90 degree wash.
the dispenser drawer gets a wash every now and again too and a scrub with an old toothbrush.
our problem is hair - all four of us [daughter, two grandaughters and me] all have long hair. recently our new washer/dryer [bought in august last year] decided not to work. my daughter cleaned the filter out and got out quite a lot of hair but when it stopped working again i called out the engineer. he replaced the pump but apparently it wasn't clogged up with hair. now, fingers crossed, it works well.

Clean out the filter at the bottom front of machine usually.
This is often the problem.
I use HG Service Engineer on dishwasher & washing machine every 6-8 weeks. You can get it from Lakeland or Robert Dyas. It works a treat & leaves machines shiny & smelling lovely & fresh.